Welcome Back!
Welcome back to another fantastic year at Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools! I’m so excited to be back in action and can’t wait to see what our staff, students, and support personnel have planned for this school year.
With new high school leadership, several new teachers in our classrooms, and a new support service center engaged with our learning initiatives, this year has the potential to become the best yet. Here are some updates for you as a parent in the district.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our team directly. Our classroom teachers, principals, and administrators are ready to connect with you and support your students’ learning journey.
Onward!
Enrollment
Enrollment is up 4% this year, compared to last year, with a decrease in withdrawals of 71% – a testament to our staff and community making it happen for Newton Falls!
A 4% increase in enrollment might not sound like much, but in reality, it’s a giant win for us in growing as a district.
Newton Falls is on track to become a destination district for new course offerings like e-Sports, and our online curriculum is available for any student who chooses to open-enroll. Help us spread the word!
A 4% increase might not sound like much, but in reality, it’s a giant win for us in growing as a district.
Better Today Than Yesterday (BTTY): A Year of Learning
This year, Newton Falls Schools is embracing the theme Better Today Than Yesterday—or BTTY—as we focus on continuous growth and learning. Each day is an opportunity to reflect, improve, and move forward together.
Whether in the classroom, on the field, or through community connections, we are committed to asking: What can we do today that makes us stronger, smarter, and better prepared than we were yesterday?
Student Culture & Phone Usage
At Newton Falls, we are committed to building a positive learning culture where students can focus on their education without unnecessary distractions.
To support this, we are reminding families that hoods up, pajama pants, earbuds in, and similar attire are not permitted during the school day.
In addition, cell phones should remain stowed away at all times during the instructional day, as our priority is keeping students engaged, connected, and present in their learning.
Thank you for supporting these expectations as we work together to create an environment where all students can thrive.
You’ll hear a lot about responsibility, respect, engagement, and integrity this year from our teaching staff – and we expect you to help us at home by promoting solid attendance, hard work, and fostering a love of learning.
What can we do today that makes us stronger, smarter, and better prepared than we were yesterday?
High School Curriculum
At the High School, we strive to make sure every student has access to strong, well-planned learning opportunities.
Beginning this year, our teachers will take part in bimonthly content meetings dedicated to curriculum planning and collaboration.
During these sessions, teachers will work together across grade levels and subject areas to strengthen and align curriculum maps. These maps serve as living guides for what students are learning and how lessons build on one another from year to year.
We’re also partnering with the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio, bringing in outside expertise to support our staff while combining it with the knowledge and experience our teachers already bring to the table.
This ensures that our curriculum reflects not only academic standards, but also the specific needs and values of our Newton Falls students and families.
Our goal is simple: to give every Tiger the best possible learning experience, preparing them for success both in school and beyond.
School Safety
We continue our partnership with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department this year for the School Resource Officer program. Deputy Joe Denvir helps us keep school safe through daily patrols, door checks, and his presence in and outside of each school building.
You will also start seeing officers from the Newton Falls Police Department during athletic events as we build our partnership with the newly re-formed Police Department in town.
We look forward to a strong school-centered effort for all kids, staff, and community members.
One School, One Community, One Book
Newton Falls Elementary School kicked off its One School, One Community, One Book program with a fun-filled day that brought families, staff, and the community together in celebration of reading.
Many parents joined their children at school and enjoyed spending quality time together while building excitement for the story ahead.
A highlight of the morning was a lively skit presented by some of our favorite staff members—Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Holesko, Mrs. Gordon, Miss Perrine, and Mr. Crowder. Their acting skills and enthusiasm had students and parents laughing and fully engaged, setting the perfect tone for the reading adventure to come.
In addition to the skit, families were treated to a delicious puppy chow snack, and students had the opportunity to design their very own reading passports.
These passports will travel with them as they read each chapter and visit participating community businesses. At each stop, students will answer fun questions about the story and receive a stamp to mark their progress.
This partnership with local businesses not only motivates students to keep reading but also reinforces the idea that literacy is a community-wide effort.
We are so thankful to our amazing community partners for stepping up to support our students.
The celebration continued in the afternoon with a special school-wide assembly. Students were delighted to meet characters from the book, watch another hilarious skit, and capture the memories with some fun snapshots.
Thanks to the energy and creativity of Miss Vanderhide, Mrs. Metheny, Mrs. Stimpert, Mrs. Thompson, and Miss Perrine, the joy of reading was brought to life once again.
The event was a true success, leaving students excited to dive into their book and families proud to be part of the Newton Falls Elementary reading community.
Athletics
Newton Falls athletics are off to an exciting start as we kick off the new school year with our Fall sports.
Our student-athletes are eager to be back on the fields, courts, and courses, and the energy across all programs has been very positive. The varsity football team, while still looking for its first win, has shown tremendous improvement compared to last season and continues to build momentum each week.
Our girls’ volleyball team is off to a strong start with a competitive roster that has high expectations for the season. The golf team is in full swing and preparing to compete in the MVAC tournament next week, while cross country continues to run strong and represent our school well.
Boys’ soccer has shown steady growth and is positioning itself to compete for a league title. Girls’ soccer has the largest roster we have seen in several years, and the players are competing hard, showing encouraging progress each match.
At the junior high level, both football and volleyball are making daily progress and building toward a bright future.
We are also fortunate to have strong community support.
Cole Valley Chevy has once again donated a car to our booster club to be raffled off, with proceeds benefiting all of our athletic programs. Our local business, Banner Fundraiser, has also been a great success, raising over $6,000 this year to help support our teams.
In addition, the final pieces of equipment for our weight room renovation have been ordered, capping off a project that raised over $20,000 entirely through private donations.
Looking ahead, our next targeted upgrade will be improving the sound systems in both the gym and at the field to enhance the game-day experience for players, fans, and families.
It’s been a promising start to the year, and the excitement surrounding Newton Falls athletics continues to grow!
Newton Falls Pathfinders
Newton Falls Pathfinders seeks to explore our surroundings through adventure, experiential learning opportunities, and explorations of what’s possible – either as a career, curiosity, or simply to awaken future interests.
It’s an opportunity for your student to experience something new, different, and fun – all while remaining engaged with their student colleagues, our staff, and the adventure itself.
Trips are organized by the Superintendent’s Office and will be supported and supervised by several additional staff members and student chaperones.
The first adventure, the Big Hike, scheduled for Friday, 9/19, filled up in just 4 minutes during signups. In the works are an Executive Chef Cooking Class, STEM/VR Adventure, Aerial Yoga, and more…
Library Partnership & Reading Resources
The Newton Falls Public Library is developing a new family reading program called Family Book Club. This month, families will be reading Amelia Bedelia. There are books in a variety of reading levels that include this character.
On Thursday, September 25, the library will be hosting a silly family dinner with reading readiness activities and games for the whole family. Sign up online at https://www.newtonfalls.org/
Yearbooks
The 2024-2025 yearbook has arrived!
Graduates, online students, and TCTC students can pick up their yearbook in the high school office.
Additional copies can be purchased for $80.00 cash or a check made payable to Newton Falls High School. See Mrs. Reynolds for more information.
A Positive Close (and a Quick Slang Decoder)
Thanks for another month of showing up for each other—students, families, and staff – and here’s to a great fall semester!
Our focus stays on learning, kindness, and momentum: Better Today Than Yesterday.
Keep lifting one another up, asking great questions, and celebrating the small wins that add up to big growth.
Before we go, a quick “Slang Corner” so we’re all speaking the same language our kids are:
- “chat” — A casual way to address a group or audience (think “folks” or “team”), borrowed from livestream culture. Example: “Chat, is this real?”
- “67” — A trending meme number with no fixed meaning; often used playfully online. Some tie it to a viral “6–7” audio/meme or tall-basketball jokes—context is everything.
- “rizz” — Short for charisma; means charm or ability to impress—often in a social/romantic sense. (“He’s got rizz.”)
As always, if you hear something new from your student and want a translation, just ask—we’re happy to help keep the conversation going at home and at school.
Once a Tiger…,
Andreas Johansson, PhD
Superintendent, Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools
One District. One Board. One Community. You BELONG in Newton Falls!